2. pc-audio
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Help with PC Audio Quality vs. CD

I hope someone with real experience can help out with this. I am having a hard time getting the same quality sound from a PC that I get from a CD player. I recently built a HTPC running Windows MCE and ripped all my cd's using lossless compression. I'm using an M-Aduio Audiophile 192 sound card and run a coax digital out of the PC to an external DAC and to my amps. It just sounds flat to me, not that it's not clear sounding, but the bass is weaker, I can hear a harshness that's not there if I run any old CD player to the DAC through the same connection. Has anyone else experienced this? I keep reading in this forum that people are saying how much better the computer transport is in theory, but I have yet to witness it. I heard that the Windows KMixer is the problem. I tried ASIO and Kernal Streaming drivers that are supposed to bypass this, and it sounds clearer, but still not as 3-dimentional and "black background" as a CD player (and I mean ANY cheap CD player, I've tried 3!)

Can someone out there with an external DAC try this and let me know their results? Use a DVD player or anything with a digital out... I don't get it. My soundcard alone cost 3 times as much as the cheap DVD player I tried and it doesn't sound as good. Anyone experience this or have any suggestions?

Here's my system so you can understand the sound I'm looking for.

I have an external MSB Link DAC III Full Nelson that I've been using for years and I really like the sound of it. I've been using a couple Sony CD changers and running them to a MSB Digital Director that will automatically switch between digital inputs, out to the DAC, then to a tube pre and tube power amp (modded dynaco ST70) and out to a pair of Monitor Audio GR10's. This system (with the right tubes) sounds so sweet to me. I'm into the huge soundstage, crisp, smooth sound - melty mid-range... you know, the analog tube sound!

I have experience in recording studios and work professionally in computers, so I have a good understanding of both, so don't be afraid to get technical with me. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Ben
thesauce
thesauce OP
21 posts
 
Gmood1 - Definitely let me know what you think of the Trends. I'd really like to get the Off-Ramp, but I just can't afford it right now. If I can find something that equals my CD transport quality, I will be happy for now, but until then the computer is only a convenience thing...

Yes, I tried the SRC when it came with Foobar a ways back (I guess it needed to be licensed so they pulled it). Honestly, I had a hard time telling a real difference. The upsampling on my hardware DAC sounds better to me, but it does seem to "soften" the sound. As you can see from my setup, I like the soft sound, so that's a plus for me.

So have you tried an optical out to your DAC from a CD source to compare? I'm curious of others setups if their computer is sounding as good as a CD source. BTW, I use glass optical cables and for my setup, they are slightly better than the coax... I don't have the option with the M-Audio card though...

Ben
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
I definitely prefer the PC to the cd player. I downloaded some HD music from Music Giant tonight. Man I haven't heard a CD that has the clarity, depth and dynamics of what I'm getting from these uncompressed recordings...simply amazing!!
pardales
652 posts
 
Do let us know how the Trends works out. No doubt Steve is at the cutting edge of this field right now....and the price of his gear reflects that. I may try to save up for one of his USB to SPDIF converters.
artizen65's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
artizen65
273 posts
 
Ben,

Here is my solution, From PC to Roku SoundBridge via 50' ethernet cable (no wireless here) SPDIF via coax from the SoundBridge to a MF TriVista DAC. I am using Itunes to rip and play .WAV files. The roku works with the Itunes database and displays the album, artist and song titles even for .WAV files.

With this setup on most discs that I have compared I can't tell the difference between my transport (Theta Data Basic II) and the computer.

This is a fairly inexpensive option that may get you by. The SoundBridge M1001 is $200.00. Plus $40.00 for an ethernet cable the cable must be a reversing cable unless you are going through a switch then a normal ethernet cable is fine. A 1.5 meter digital cable will run $20.00 from BlueJeans cables. I feel that this is an execelent setup for the price.

Good luck

P.S. Yes as you know there is a lot of grunge on the signal paths inside a PC.
sorenson
2 posts
 
You setup very similar to mine, I also use my HTPC as A/V source with a M-Audio Audiophile 192 using the SPDIF OUT into my A/V Marantz Receiver (acts as DAC) then using the pre-outs into my Aragon 4004 MkII power amp.

as software is concerned I use the latest drivers from M-Audio 5.10.00.5052v3 the great thing about these is that they natively support ASIO and AC3/DTS pass-through.
Foobar2000 0.9.4.1 and lossless FLAC (ripped with EAC).

as for trouble-shooting you problem, first off I would try a different digital IC, you might also want to check the M-Audio Control Panel and check the settings and share with us how you have your software settings set up.

also it is not uncommon for a lot of Pcs to have sub-standard power supplys, it might be something worth looking into, maybe an Enermax or a Seasonic as high quality replacements
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